Electrical connecter



` Aug. 27, 1935'. c. P. soRENsEN ET A1. 2,012,696

ELECTRICAL CONNECTER Filed Nov. 12, 1934 NsuLA-rnuN :sok

Patented Aug. 27, 1935 PATENT OFFICE weer N Carl P. Sorensen andPetcr Gims'e, Chicago, Application November` 12, 1934,. Serial No. 752,609 4Claims. (01.173-332) This invention relates to electrical connecters,

and its principal object is to provide an electrical connecter comprising a receptacle through which the circuit for one or more electrical devices or appliances is normally closed, and a plug, which when plugged into the receptacle, opens the normally closed circuit and closes another circuit for other electrical devices or appliances.

Although the invention is not limited thereto, it has particular reference to tail lights or rear ysignaling lights of motor vehicles, particularly motor trucks "and trailers. As iswell known, motor trucks are provided 'with tail lights and usually with rear signaling lights, and the trail-v .i ers are also equipped with similar appliances. Ob#- viously when a trailer is coupled to a truck, it is unnecessary for the rear lights on the truck to function since lthose on the trailer" serve the purpose; With the present electrical connecter, an electrical receptacle is provided, usuallyfon the truck, which is in series with the rear lights, and the lamp circuit for the rear lights on the trailer is .provided with a plug, which, 'when inserted into the receptacle, opens the circuit for the rear lights' on the truck and establishes a circuit for the rear lights on the trailer, It is to be understood, however, that the electrical connecters, forming the subject matter of this specv iiication, may be used in any situation where it is desired to open any electrical circuit and close the circuit of an extension without theuse vof switches.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed. 1 Oneembodiment of the invention is clearly illustrated in the drawing accompanying this specification, in which: l

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the receptacle of the electrical connecter and showing its application diagrammatically to a lamp circuit, the line of section being indicated at I-I of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the plug, the line of section being indicated at v2 2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a plan of the interior of thereceptacle with the shell removed;

Fig. 4 is a plan of the plug, and

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section of the taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to said drawing, the reference character I0 designates the body of the receptacle A,

plug

which body is usually contained wtihin a shell or i.

casing II. The body I0 is composed of non-conducting material and is formed with one or more pairs of sockets I2, I2a, extending inward from one end, and one: or more pairsof slots I3, I3 extending from the outer face I4 of the body .to said sockets.A v f Secured in the sockets of the body, yby-,screwsy I5, I5a, I5b, are associated pairs of contact mem- 5A vbers I6, 16h, and |63, IIib, the ends Il ofeach pair normally contacting with eachother. The adjacent contact members Ib are electrically connected with each othenand asshown, may be formed from the'sarne strip vof material.l The .10in contact members arecomposed of resilient conducting material.- H

In the application of the invention, as illustrated in thedrawing, the end contact members* IE, I6a are connected to electric wires HMH?,a that .15? form part of a lamp circuit, of which the battery is seen at IS and an incandescent electric lamp at 20. The battery and lamp may be grounded, Y and an electric switch 2| is usually employed inthe circuit asshown. The receptacle and lamp 20 circuit described may be incorporated in a' motor` f truck or other vehicle, with `the receptacle located Y at the rear thereof. The circuit can be traced from the grounded battery I9 through wire I,

contact member Ilia, Contact members IIb, IBb, 25 @contact memberIG, wire I8 and lamp 20 to ground.

The plug B is provided with one or more pairs of associated fingers 22, 22e, one of which 22 `is v composed of non-conducting material rigidly 30 fastened in the body 23 oftheplug by a screw or other fastening element 24. The linger 22a' is composed of conducting material and isfastened to the body 23 by a screw 25. An electric wire 26 is connected to the linger 22a, and in the em- 35 bodiment of the invention illustrated runs to an incandescent electric lamp 21 which is grounded.

The lamp 2'I `may represent the tail light or sig'- naling lamp on the rear of a trailer, and the plug may be located at the front of the trailer in con- 4 0 venient position 'to be plugged into the receptacle. It is to be understood that there may be as many pairs of lingers 22, 22a Lon the plug asthere are associated pairs of contact members in the receptacle, or separate plugs may be provided, one for 45 each associated pair of contact members in the receptacle as is' found desirable. Two pairs of contact members and two pairs of fingers are illustrated in the drawing.

With the circuit closed through the lamp 20, and assuming that said lamp represents the tail` n light or signaling lamp at the rear of a truck or other vehicle and assuming that the lamp 21 repg resents the tail light -or signaling lamp on a trail" Y er, it will be seen vthat so long as the plug re- 5 mains disconnected from the receptacle, the lamp circuit to the lamp 2U is closed through the con- When a trailer, Y

tact members in vthe receptacle. equipped with the present invention, is attached to the truck or other vehicle, the plug B is plugged into the receptacle A. The ngers, when inserted into the receptacle, spread apart the ends l1 of the contact members i6, ib and Ita, lsb, and the nger 22 being composed of non-conducting material, itfopens the circuit between the contact vmembers lia, E Gb," thereby' breakingy the circuit for the lamp 20, while the nger 22a, being composed of conducting material, 'it establishes a circuit from the Y.battery through contact member 16%' finger 22a, and wire 26, to the lamp 21, thereby eX- tinguishing the signaling lamp on the truck and illuminating the signaling lamp on the trailer. Obviously when the plug is disconnected fromthe receptaclathe circuit for the lamp 2B is re-es- Patent: Y Y

1. rAn electrical conductor comprising a receptacle having a body formed of non-conducting material and two pairs of contact members therein, those of each pair being normally in contact for closing a circuit, andra plug having a pair of fingers insertablel between the contact members of kthe two pairsone of said fingers being composedv of non-conducting material, whereby to break Contact between the contact members mi. ofone pair, and the other nger being ,composed of conductingr material, whereby to make contact withone AContact member of the other pair.-

2. Anelectrical conductor comprising a receptacle having a body formed of non-conducting material and having a pair of sockets therein, a

`contact member contained in each socket, and a contact piece entering each socket an-d common to and normally in' contact with said two contact members, and a plug having two fingers insertable ducting material and having a pair of sockets therein and slots aligned with said sockets and opening out through the face of the body, there being two pairs of' contacting contact members extending into said sockets with one contact member of both pairs in electrical contact with each other, and a plug having two fingers insertable through saidslots into contact with the two pairs of Contact members, one of said ngers being composed of non-conducting material and one of conducting material. i

4. An electrical connecter comprising two associated pairs or contact members, those of each pair normally being in contact and one member of each pair having. electrical connection with a corresponding contact member of the other pair,

the lother contactmembers of each pair beingV adapted'or electrical connection kwith a wireof 

